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CU-backedCandidatesWininTuesday’sPrimaries,Runoffs

Numerous credit union-friendly candidates saw victories in Tuesday’s primary and runoff elections in multiple states. Primaries took place in Colorado, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, Utah, and runoffs took place in Mississippi and South Carolina.

Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney easily won his primary election against opponent state Rep. Mike Kennedy with 73% of the vote. Romney will run in November for the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch (R).

In Mississippi 3rd Congressional District, District Attorney Michael Guest (R) won the runoff election against Whit Hughes 65% to 35%. Guest was supported by the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC) and the Mississippi Credit Union Association in the primary.

He will run in November to fill the seat left vacant by retiring Rep. Gregg Harper (R).

In South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, CULAC and Carolinas Credit Union League-backed state Sen. William Timmons (R) won the Republican runoff, taking 54% to opponent Lee Bright’s 46%. Timmons will run in November for the seat left open by retiring Rep. Trey Gowdy (R).

Other wins for credit union-supported candidates include:

Colorado 2nd Congressional District: Joe Neguse (D) won his primary 66% to 34% over former Air Force pilot Mark Williams. Neguse formerly served as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies under Gov. John Hickenlooper, where his responsibilities included regulation and oversight of Colorado’s state chartered credit unions;

New York 25th Congressional District: Credit union-backed New York Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle (D) easily won the Democratic nomination for a seat that is currently vacant following the death of Rep. Louise Slaughter (D);

Oklahoma 1st Congressional District: Credit union-backed Kevin Hern (R) finished second to former Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris, 28% to 23%, but will face Harris again in an August 8th runoff election for the Republican nomination for the seat left vacant by Rep. Jim Bridenstine’s appointment to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

CULAC and the NJCUL supported nine candidates in New Jersey’s primary election earlier this month, all of whom were successful in securing their party’s nomination to run in November’s general election.